Environmental Sustainability Program Lead & Teacher

High Meadows School in Roswell, GA is seeking an Environmental Sustainability Program Lead & Teacher for PreK-8th grade for the 2026-27 school year. The role involves leading the Environmental & Outdoor Education program, teaching in a dedicated classroom and utilizing the campus for outdoor learning. Ideal candidates should be nurturing, creative, and collaborative, with strong communication skills and a commitment to sustainability and diversity in education.
Please Note: Only individuals following the Application Process below and who have the experience required will have their information forwarded to the Hiring Committee.

High Meadows School in North Atlanta (Roswell), Georgia is accepting Environmental Sustainability Program Lead & Teacher PreK- 8thgrade applications for the 2026-27 school year. The school takes pride in hiring dynamic, compassionate, and diverse faculty and staff who are among the finest in their areas of expertise.

School’s Mission Statement

The High Meadows community celebrates and perpetuates each individual’s quest for knowledge and skill, sense of wonder, and connection to the natural environment. We empower each to be a compassionate, responsible, and active global citizen.

School’s Vision Statement

High Meadows School and Camp inspires adventurous learners who ask questions that drive learning and seek sustainable solutions in collaboration with others. Our students emerge as ethical leaders with the skills and habits of mind to grow and adapt as they discover a place of purpose and joy in an ever-changing world.

Summary of our Educators

Our educators are experienced, energetic, and collaborative individuals who follow a constructivist, progressive educational philosophy which is student-centered and holds kids to high and reasonable standards. Our tenets of progressive education include: (1) embracing the world, (2) hands-on and inquiry-driven learning, (3) holistic approach to educating children, (4) social justice and sustainability, and (5) transdisciplinary learning.

We look for educators who maintain excellent relationships with families, work successfully within a team, understand developmentally appropriate practices for students, recognize the educational value of the natural environment and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in their teaching practice. At High Meadows, we believe that children possess a drive for cognitive, physical, and social engagement—a drive that is developed and enhanced by an environment that promotes academic challenge, creativity, personal responsibility, and a positive self-image.

Summary of Position

The Environmental Sustainability Program Lead & Teacher (“ES”) serves as the leader of High Meadows’ Environmental & Outdoor Education program, teaching students PreK–8 while driving campus-wide sustainability initiatives. This educator designs and delivers instruction in both a dedicated Environmental Science classroom and across our 42-acre campus, intentionally using gardens, forests, habitats, and outdoor spaces as living laboratories. Outdoor learning is a core instructional methodology of this program, and the ideal candidate is confident managing student safety and engagement in dynamic, non-traditional learning environments in varied weather conditions.

Knowledge and Skill Set Requirements

· Must be motivated, nurturing, creative, self-directed and a collaborative team member.

· Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as a passion and energy for teaching children.

· Desire to play a meaningful role in each student’s daily school life and the life of the school.

· Ability to clearly communicate, collaborate, and work effectively in a teaching partnership.

· Ability to nurture and challenge each student.

· Model continuous learning, and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

· Understand academic, social, behavioral, and emotional development milestones of children.

· Understand positive discipline in a progressive educational setting.

Our Teachers:

§ Adhere to the school philosophy recognizing the developmental nature of childhood growth and each child’s need for belonging.

§ Work in accordance with the mission, vision and values of High Meadows School around approaches to learning/teaching, project-based instruction, and the Positive Discipline approach to behavior.

§ Are responsible for supervision and direct instruction, student assessment, narratives, communication with parents, and parent-student-teacher conferences.

ES Teacher:

§ The ES teacher is responsible for supervision and direct instruction in Environmental Sustainability, including grades Kindergarten through 8th, student assessment, narratives, and communication with parents.

§ The ES teacher works in collaboration with the Connections team, both within and across academic disciplines, and is responsible for student learning, classroom instruction, and curriculum implementation in Environmental Sustainability.

§ The ES teacher works in collaboration with the Early Years and Middle Years teams to make connections to International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme® units of study (K-5).

§ The ES teacher will design learning environments that are focused on creativity and innovation, striving to challenge students to a deeper thinking level and to develop a yearning for greater understanding.

The ES Teacher is also a Teacher Consultant: Consulting with classroom teachers providing resources to incorporate Education for Sustainability and outdoor campus resources into their strategies for teaching all subject areas.

The ES Teacher is the Garden & Special Project Coordinator:
• Spearhead and oversee campus projects that may be used long term as curricular resources for all teachers, including but not limited to campus gardens, composting, and natural habitats.
• Coordinate gardening program with parent and student volunteers, to care for the campus gardens.
• Coordinate the campus recycling and composting programs.
• Lead planning committees such as Earth Day, Campus Sustainability, and serve as a liaison to the parent organization (FAHMS).

The ES Teacher Builds Community Connections:

o Maintain and seek new relationships with Community Partners around sustainability practices on campus, to enrich our students’ learning as well as our connection to the larger community.

o Identify and maintain memberships and certifications with organizations relevant to Environmental Education and EFS.

Minimum Education/Prior Experience/Qualifications Required
• Minimum of three to five current, consecutive years as a full-time teacher in Environmental Sustainability (PreK-8th)
• Bachelor’s Degree required ( Preference given to those with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Education).
• Collaborative and interdisciplinary instruction experience a must.

Preferences given to applicants with:
• Experience as a constructivist educator
• Experience as a teacher in a progressive school setting
• Current GA Teaching Certification

The Campus
High Meadows School sits on 42 wooded acres in Roswell. The school is housed in several buildings spread across the two meadows on the property. We have an active barnyard on campus, serving as the home for horses, sheep, bunnies, chickens, goats, and pigs. Faculty and staff must be comfortable traveling between buildings in all types of weather, participating in outdoor activities on the meadows and in the forest, and intermingling with animals.

Professional Expectations

Teachers at High Meadows School are very collaborative, visible to the educational community including students, colleagues, administration, staff and families, our teachers are expected to adhere to maintaining a professional relationship:
• Responsibility: Our teachers are aware of the educator role, being accountable for one’s actions, understanding the boundaries between students, colleagues, parents and the school community. Maintaining contact with families in a timely and professional manner regarding school related and student-based situations.
• Reliability: Colleagues and supervisors can depend on teachers to complete tasks, meet deadlines, and take on new challenges. This includes open dialogue with co-teacher and team about shared responsibilities.
• Accountability: Our teachers take responsibility for actions and demonstrate professional integrity, involves owning both praise and constructive feedback in a manner that illustrates self-containment and self-reflection. Recognize the boundaries of professional relationships within the HMS community, such as colleagues and families.
• Time Management: Efficiently and effectively show good use of organizational abilities and maintaining contract hours in order to complete job responsibilities.

Application Process

Please send a cover letter indicating interest, educational philosophy, and resume directly to HR Manager Jane Murphy at jmurphy@highmeadows.org. If you are selected for the next steps in the process, an application link will be emailed to you. (Please, no phone calls. Only candidates selected for the next step will be contacted.)

High Meadows School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or status as a protected veteran in employment, admission of students, or in providing its services in any manner. For more information about High Meadows School, please visit www.highmeadows.org.

Pay: From $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person